Age Concern says it is shocked at the sudden withdrawal of government funding for its ’lifeline’ Meals on Wheels service.

Health chiefs announced today that they are ending their £150,000 a year contract with Age Concern to provide Meals on Wheels as from January 12.

But the charity, which says 300 people rely on the service, including 84 aged between 90 and 102, claims the decision has been made without consultation.

It described Meals on Wheels as a vital lifeline to older people who live alone and may not see anyone else during the day.

And it called on government to urgently reconsider the decision.

In a statement, it said it is both shocked by the government’s sudden decision to cut the service, and alarmed that older people may lose out on vital care.

Helen Southworth, Age Concern Isle of Man chief executive, said: ’We are very worried that this decision will at best make life more difficult for our senior citizens and at worst could put some vulnerable older people at risk of malnutrition.

’Following on from the proposed prescription charges, this is yet another burden targeting the most vulnerable people in our community.’

Age Concern described the decision as ’short sighted’, in both financial and human terms.

The people who get Meals on Wheels cannot manage to shop and cook for themselves, and some have just come out of hospital, the charity pointed out.

Mrs Southworth added: ’We cannot understand why the DHSC has decided to cut the Meals on Wheels service without consultation, and we are shocked that they have decided to remove the service in the middle of January, in deepest winter.

’We have asked to be given the government’s assessment of the impact this cut will have on vulnerable older people, and for information on what alternatives will be available for them, and we are disappointed that this has not yet been forthcoming.’